Card forming and perforating apparatus



Jan. 4, 1944. w, LEATHER?, 2,338,288

CARD FORMING AND PERFORMING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 2o, 19145 3 sheets-sheet 1 w. LEATHERS 2,338,288

CARD FORMING AND PERFORATING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 20, 1945 Jan. 4, 1944. w. LEATHERS CARD FORMING AND PERFORATNG APPARATUS Filed Aug. 20, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 NN vom OWN NMN NUN #n ONN WON

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ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 4, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENToFFlc CARD FORIVIING AND PERFORATING APPARATUS Ward Leathers, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to In- Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 20, 1943, Serial No. 499,352'

iernationai Business 8 Claims.

'to provide an apparatus of this character which will operate to receive the tape from a roll and pass the same through a tape perforating sta.

tion, while at the same time biasing the tape in such a manner as to remove the tendency of the tape tov curl due to its curved origin in the roll, thus producing cards or tokens" which are substantially fiat and which are, therefore, conductive to proper stacking, sorting or other handling operations. An ancillary object of the invention is to provide such a tape biasing mechanism wherein the degree of bias applied to the tape becomes progressively greater as the roll is unwound so that wherefthe tendency for the tape to curl would be the greatest, the counteracting biasing of the tape is correspondingly large.

Another object of the invention is to provide a perforating apparatus wherein the perforating operations may be controlled by means of a manually operable keyboard having associated therewith a shear key operable upon manual depression thereof to effect a shearing operation upon the tape to sever the perforated portion Ithereof from the unperforated portion.

A further object is to provide an apparatus of this character in which the keyboard is provided with an error key operable upon manual depression thereof to effect shearing of the perforated portion of the tape from the unperforated portion thereof and to automatically eject the severed portion from the machine, thus clearing the same for further tape perforating operations.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel form of tape ejecting operation which is electromagnetically controlled from thel keyboard associated with' the machine.

Yet another object of the invention it' to provide an apparatus having associated therewith a novel form of tape punching assemb y .which is extremelyvcornpact in its design yet rugged and durablev and efficient in its operation, thus materially effecting a saving in available space and making possible the production of an apparatus which is relatively small in size and inexpensive to manufacture, considering the character of the service required of it.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shearing mechanism which operates at one stroke thereof to shear the perforated portion of the tape from the unperforated portion, While simultaneously notching the severed portion of the tape and removing the counterpart of the notch from the unsevered portion of the tape.

Other objects and advantages of the invention p will become more readily apparent hereinafter.

In the accompanying three sheets of dra-wings forming a part of this specification, one embodiment of the invention is shown for illustrative purposes. In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a tape perforating vand severing apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, a portion of the machine casing being broken away to moreclearly reveal the nature of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, enlarged, detailed, side elevational view, partly in section, of the upper portion of the machine.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 3. u I

Fig. 5 a sectional view taken substantially along n@ me 5 5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is al sectional view taken substantially y along the line 6--6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, detailed. side elevational view of card shearing die per se,

Fig. '1a is an enlarged, fragmentary, detailed plan view of the anvil used in cooperation with the shearing die.

Fig. 8 is an end view of the structure shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view of the shearing die per se.-

Fig..10 is a plan view of a perforated card or token which has been sheared from the strip of tape.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged, sectional view takenv substantially along the une n n of Fig. 3.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken substantially.

along the line l2--l2 of Fig. 3 showing the ejector arm in its lowest position.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged, detailed, fragmentary view of a portion of the card electing mechansm taken substantially along the line iB-II of Fig. 3.

Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic view showing the relation between the keyboard and operative card punching and shearing instrumentalities and also showing the electrical circuits associated with the apparatus.

In al1 of the above described views like characters of reference are employed to designate like parts throughout.

Structurally and mechanically, the present apparatus is similar in many respects to the perforating apparatus shown in my Patent No.

2,325,961, dated August 3, 1943, for Tape perforating apparatus, and reference may be had to this patent for a. disclosure of many of the details which are obscure in the present disclosure.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, the apparatus involves in its general organization a rectilinear casing I8, including a rear wall i2, side walls i4 and a top wall I8. The casing I8 is mounted 20 upon a hollow base member I8, the front wall 28 of which is turned inwardly to form' a bottom wall or floor for the casing I8. A relatively deep token receiving well 22 is provided with a front wall 28, a rear wall 24 and side walls 28. one of which merges as at 38 with the upper wall I8 of the casing I8.

The roll of tape 32 is removably mounted upon a chuck 34 carried by a bracket 38 positioned at one side of the apparatus and mounted on the hollow base I8. Suitably supported on the top wall i8 of the casing I8 is a relatively small, boxlike housing 38 which serves to enclose the operative punching die instrumentalities for applying perforations to the tape issuing from the roll 8235 thereof together with the operative shearing instrumentalities, by means of which perforated portions of the tape are severed from the unperforated portions thereof to provide individual cards or tokens. The casing 38 also serves to 40 enclose a portion of the tape advancing instrumentalities, as will be set forth in detail hereinafter. The portion 38 of the wall I 8 forms in effect a table over which the tape is adapted to pass. ly a slight distance above the top wall or table portion |8 to provide a channel 3| through which the tape passes to be operated upon by the die instrumentalities contained within the housing 38. Thus, the interior of the housing 38 consti- 50 tutes a perforating station at which the tape is suitably processed. An area of the table portion I8 at one side of the casing 38 constitutes an ejecting station wherein the severed portions of the tape may be ejected from the machine, if de- 55 sired, as for example, in case of an error appearing in the perforations therein. The severed cards or tokens are received by and stacked automatically in the well 22 as they are ejected from the ejecting station. The front wall 28 of the 60 well 2-2 is provided with a vertical slot 42 through which the finger of the operator may be inserted to lift the stack of cards or tokens from the well 22. A horizontal ledge or partition 44 is disposed in the well 22 near the bottom thereof to prevent 65 the cards from resting flush with the bottom wall of the well. This ledge or portion 44 is provided with a semi-circular notch 46 (see Fig. 1) in order that access may be had to the lowermost card in the stack for lifting purposes.

As previously stated, the tape issuing from the roll 32 (see Figs. 3 and 4) is adapted to pass along the up'per surface of the top wall I8, which in effect forms a table portion for passage of the tape thereover and beneath the box-like housing 38. The chuck 34 is freely rotatable about its axis and, in order to prevent undue slack in the tape, a friction member 48 has its inner end secured to a horizontal rock shaft 58 carried in bearing brackets 52 mounted on the upper wall The box-like housing 38 is spaced upward- 45 I8 of the casing I8. The outer end of the arm 48 is provided with a friction pad 84 which rests lightly on the upper surface of the roll 32 to restrain the roll in its periodic rotary movements. A tension spring 53 normally urges the shaft 88 in a clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 3.

The arm 48 is generally of U-shaped cross section and carries adjacent its inner end a horizontal pin 58 (see Fig. 3) on which there is rotatably mounted a roller 58. The roller 58 cooperates with a pair of spaced rollers 88 carried in a bracket 82 in order to apply a bias to the tape to counteract the tendency of the tape to curl by virtue of its association with the roll 32. The tape is adapted to pass over the first roller 88, under the roller 58, and over the second roller 88 before passing to the table portion of the apparatus. Itis to be noted that as the arm 48 gradually swings downwardly due to a decrease in the diameter of the roll 32 as the tap is fed therefrom, the roller 58 will move deeper and deeper into the space existing between the two rollers 88, thus gradually increasing the bias on the tape. Obviously, the tendency for the tape to curl will become greater as the diameter of the roll 82 decreases and thus this increased bias applied to the tape by the roller 58 is necessary to effectively counteract this increased tendency of the tape to curl. Pivotally mounted on the rock shaft 58 is a U-shaped bracket 84 which carries at its outer end a roller 88 under which the tape is adapted to pass. `A coil spring 'I2 surrounds the rock shaft 58 and one end of the spring 12 18, which rollers serve to frictionally engage the tape therebetween and advance the same along the table portion I8. The lower roller 18 is rotatably mounted in ixed bearings 18, while the upper roller I4 is mounted in a pair of floating bearings 88 carried in a bearing cage 82. A tension spring 84, the tension of which may be adjusted by means of an adjusting screw 88, bears downwardly against the floating bearings 88 to yieldingly urge the upper roller 14 against the tape passing between the pair of rolls. Means are provided whereby the box-like casing 38 may be manuallyv removed from its position on the casing I8 in order that access may be had to the adjusting screw 88, as well as to the other instrumentalities` enclosed by the casing 38. The lower roller I8 is adapted to be indexed to advance the tape through the perforating station one index point position at a time. Toward this end, a ratchet wheel 88 is secured to and ro-` aasaass 3 of the core |04 will serve to swing the lever 80 in a counter-clockwise direction, thus moving the pawl 80 downwardly and indexing the roher 10. The ratchet drive mechanism just described is, therefore, of the direct acting type, the roller 'I0 being indexed upon energization of the electromagnet |82. Whereas inmy copending application above referred to the tape is transferred from one roll to another without being severed, in the present instance the tape is removed from the roll 82, processed, and severed into cards or tokens. For this reason, a friction drive mechanism, such as has Just been described, is employed,k inasmuch as it is not desired to have center drive hole perforations appearing in the individual severed cards. The electromagnet |82 is adapted to be energized at will by means of certain keys forming part of the keyboard mechanism to be described hereinafter.

The operative tape perforating instrumentalities are best illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. These instrumentalities are enclosed in the box-like casing 38 and include a plurality of tiltable rocker arms which are four in number and are designated at |20, |22, |24 and |20. The various tiltable members are arranged in nested fashion, the outer member |20 comprising a generally oval frame-like structure having a central opening in whichr the next smaller member |22 is disposed. The member |22 is similar in shape to the member |20 but of smaller size and is similarly nested within this latter member |24. The member |24 is also kgenerally oval in shape and disposed within its central opening is the central member |20. This latter member |20 is in the form o an elongated bar, the ends of which are rounded. The various members |20, |22, |24 and |20 are pivoted medially of their ends to a fixed supporting shaft |28 carried in bearings |80 vprovided at the upper end of an upper die block |50. The shaft |20 also serves to support a rocker arm |34, which is included in the tape shearing instrumentalities and which will be referred to presently. Adjacent ends of the various members |20, |22, |24 and |20 carry on their underneath sides respective punching dies |30, |88, |40 and |42. These latter dies act downwardly on the tape passing through the perforating station and are in the form of relatively small pins having enlarged heads |44 and reduced shanks |40, the'latter comprising the operative punching elements of the dies. The dies |30, |30, |40 and |42 are vertically slidable in cylindrical bores |48 provided in the upper die block |00. A coil spring |02 surrounds each of the shanks |40 of the various dies and serves to normally elevate the dies to their inoperative position.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5, the die actuating instrumentalities are substantially identical to the die operating instrumentalities shown and described in my copending application above referred to and reference may be had thereto for a full disclosure of such instrumentalities. It is thought that a brief description of the die actuating mechanism, as shown in the present application, will be sufilcient in the light of the disclosure of my copending application. Briefly, a plurality of thrust rods |04 project upwardly through guides formed in the die block |00 and engage the underneath sides oi the respective rocker arms |20, |22, |24 and |20 near the end thereof which is opposite to the punching dies proper. engaged by respective offset thrust rods |00 of The thrust rods |04 are varying lengths and the lower end of each rod |50 projects through openings |08 provided in a series of horizontal supporting flanges |00 carried on a standard |02. Each of the thrust rods |55 is provided with a stop collar |04 which bears against the upper surface of one of the flanges |00 and limits the downward movement of its respective thrust rod. The lower end of each of the thrust rods |55 is formed with an adjustable l0 abutment head |00 which is threadedly received thereon and which cooperates with a hammer or operating lever |00, the movements of which are electromagnetically controlled and by means oi' which the rod may be elevated to cause its respective rocker arm |20, |22, |24 or |20, as the case may be, to become tilted to depress the punching dies and cause the same to engage the tape during its operative perforating stroke. Each abutment head |00 has associated therewith a lock nut |10, and thus it will be seen that by rotating the abutment head |00 relative t0 the thrust rod upon which it is mounted and then securing the same in position by means of the lock nut |10 the effective length of the thrust l5 rod may be varied to in turn vary the stroke of the punching die.

A plurality of operating magnets designated at |80, |82, |84, |80, |88 and |90 (see Fig. 14) are secured to the walls of the casing I0 interiorally thereof. The magnets |80, |84 and |88 are secured to one s'ide wall in superimposed relationship, while the magnets |82, |80 and |80 are similarly secured to the opposite side wall. Each of the magnets |84, |80, |88 and |90 is provided with an armature |92, upon which armatures the various hammers |08 are disposed. The hammers underlie the abutment heads |00 and remain normally spaced therefrom a slight distance in order that upon energization of its respective controlling electromagnet an initial free impetus will be imparted to the armature before actual engagement with the thrust rods |55. Thus it will be seen that the punches are actuated rather by a hammer eil'ect than by a small pressing or ldriving motion, and in this manner a very positive and effective operation of the punching dies is attained.

The magnets |84, |80, |08 and |00 cooperate with their respective thrust rods |00 for perfo- 5" rating code characters in the tape 02. Since four of these perforating magnets have been shown,

it is obvious that the use of a four-line code is contemplated.

The electromagnet |82, as has previously been described, is the magnet which controls the operation of the ratchet and pawl mechanism 08, 00 by means of which the tape driving vrolls 10, 00 are driven. The magnet |80 (see Fig.,1) forms part of a shear relay mechanism and operates 0u upon energization thereof to cause a perforated portion of the tape 82 to be severed from the remaining unperforated portion. Toward this end, the magnet |80 is provided with a retractable core |84 to which there is pivoted a pair of l5 toggle links |00 and |00. The lower toggle link |88 is pivotally secured to a bracket 200 mounted on the standard |02. The other and upper toggle link |80 is pivotally secured at its free end to a thrust collar 202 secured to the lower endy of a thrust rod 204 which projects upwardly through the die block |00 (see Fig. 3). The thrust rod 204 bears at its upper end against the underneath side of the rocker arm |84 previously mentioned. The other end of the rocker arm |04 'i0 has pivotally secured thereto as at 200 (see Figs.

'the table portion I6 of the machine.

7, 8 and 9) a shearing die 208. The shearing die 208 is of irregular configuration andincludes a straight cutting edge 210 and a bevelled cutting edge 212. The shearing die 208 is designed for cooperation with a shearing anvil 214 (see Fig. 7a) in making a transverse cut in the tape and also in notching one corner thereof, this latter notcliing operation being conventional in practice in the manufacture of cards-'which are designed to be perforated for accounting purposes. The anvil 2|4 is provided with a cutting edge 2|6 which cooperates with the cutting edge 210, and a second cutting edge 218 which cooperates With the cutting edge 2I2.

Referring now to Figs. 3, 4, l1. 12 and 13, wherein the card ejecting mechanism for cards which have been erroneously perforated is best illustrated. This ejecting mechanism involves in its general organization a pair of extended brackets 220 which are located directly beneath the top wall I6 and are attached to an inter` mediate wall 22|. The ends of each of the extended brackets 220 are formed with integral bearings 222 which serve to support therebetween 'a rotatable rock shaft 224. Anchored to the rock shaft by means of tortion pins 226 is the ejecting piece proper 228. This ejecting piece is in the form of an H-shaped member having parallel arms 230, by means of which the piece is anchored to the shaft 224 and a bridge portion or strut 232. Each of the arms 230 is formed with a laterally extending ejecting ear 234 designed for actual contact with the severed cards or tokens to eject them from the apparatus, such ejection taking place when the shaft 224 is turned about its axis in such a manner as to swing the ejecting piece 228 upwardly into engagement with the card. v

The cards which are severed from the tape 32, before they are ejected from the machine, are supported in a guide member 240 positioned on The guide 240 is in the form of a substantially fiat plate having upstanding edge portions 242 at opposite sides thereof, each provided with an elongated groove 244 adapted to retain thereinf the edges of the cards. In order that the ejecting ears 234 may engage the edge of the card and propel the same to one side of the apparatus, the guide member 240 is formed with slots 246 at one side thereof adjacent the ends of the member 240 to provide clearance for the ears 234. Before the card can be ejected, however, from the member 240, it is necessary to disengage one edge of the card from the slotv 242 in which it is normally retained, and toward this end an arm 248 has one end thereof pivoted as at 250 in a. bracket 252 secured to the wall 22|. 'I'he'free end of the arm has secured thereto an upstanding linger 254, the upper end of which projects through an opening 256 provided in the top Wall I6 beneath the card which is retained in the member 240. It will be seen that when the arm 248 is swung upwardly, the finger 254 will project through the aperture 256 and forcibly remove the edge of the card from the groove 244 in which it is retained. A pin 258 projects laterally from the arm 248 medially thereof and carries a roller 260 adapted to be engaged by a cam member 262 (see Figs. and 13) mounted on the shaft 224 and normally held in an inoperative position by means of a spring 266. The cam 262 is provided with a raised portion 238 which upon engagement with the roller 260 performs the actual elevating of the arm 248. It will be seen, therefore, that labeled HError,

when the shaft 224 is turned in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 13, the raised portion 268 will engage the roller 260 and elevate the same, thus elevating the arm 248 and causing the finger 254 to engage the card, as previously described, and disengage the latter from the slot 244 in which it is retained.

Rocking of the shaft 224 is automatically accomplished upon lowering of the thrust rod 204, by means of which the shearing mechanism is operated subject to certain other conditions which must be obtained and which will be set forth presently. Toward this end, the collar 202 carried at the lower end of the thrust rod 204 is provided with a pin 210 designed for engagement with an extension or finger 212 provided on an arm 214 which is pivoted as at 216 to a depending bracket 218 supported from the top wall I6. The arm 214 projects laterally in the casing and terminates in the vicinity of the shaft 224 and slightly below the same.

The shaft 224, as shown in Fig. 1l, is provided with a. relatively short, reduced extension 280 havingan elongated slot 282 extending completely therethrough. A collar 284, generally of spool-shaped design, is slidably mounted on the extension 280 and is retained thereon by means of a pin 286 which projects through the slot 282. A finger 288 projects laterally from one face of the spool-like member 284 and is aligned with an opening 290 formed in a flange 292 provided on a collar 294 which is rigidly secured to the shaft 224 by means of a pin 286. It will be seen from the above description that when the spoollike member 284 is in its extreme right-hand position, as shown in Fig. ll, the finger 288 will occupy a retracted position. When the member 280 is in its extreme left-hand position the finger 288 will be projected through the aperture 290 and into the path of movement of the free end of the arm 214.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 12, reciprocal movement of the spool-like member 284 is effected by means of an electromagnet 298. and having associated therewith an armature 300 on which there is mounted a forked member 302 having a. bifurcated outer end 304 which straddles the spool-like member or collar 284. The forked member 302 is secured as at 306 to a bracket 308 and is in the form of a leaf spring which is normally biased in such a manner as to maintain the spool-like collar 284 in its retracted position. Upon energization of the error magnet 288, the forked member will be moved to the left, as viewed in Fig. 3, thus urging the spool-member 284 to its projected position wherein the finger 288 extends through the aperture 290 and is in the path of movement of the arm 214 (see Fig. l2). In actual operation when the thrust rod 204, by means of which the shearing mechanism is operated, is moved to its lowermost position. the pin 210 engages the finger 212 and depresses the same, thus swinging the arm 214 upwardly into engagement with the finger 288 and imparting rotary movement to the shaft 224 to actuate the cam 262 (see Figs. 11 and 13). as previously described, and cause the finger 254 to forcibly remove the edge of the card from the groove 244 in which it is retained. Further turning movement of the shaft 224 serves to cause the ears 234 to engage the edge of the severed card or token and eject the same laterally from the machine. The ejected cards may fall into a basket or bin, not shown, wherein they are available when desired.

this figure is purely "sentation and for "this view the keyboard depression of the error vtacts 310 and 384 gization of the shear magnet |88 will not operate and thus, although the Referring now to rig. 14 wherein the electrical connections for the apparatus are illustrated,

diagrammatic in its repreconvenience of illustration certain parts thereof have been juxtaposed in lorder that the electrical circuits leading thereto may yappear less complicated than otherwise. In

is designated in its entirety at 358 andis more or less of conventional design.

Still sociated with the connected to the four code keys 352 are directly respective perforating magnets |84, |86, |88 and |38 in such a manner that upon closing any one of these pairs of contacts cur rent is conducted from a source S thereof to the proper perforating magnet |84, |88, |88 or |90, as the case may be, to energize the same and cause the tape 32 to be perforated. The pair of contacts 382 associated with the shear key 358 is directlyy connected to the shear magnet |88 in such a manner that upon depression of the key 355 the shearing magnet |80 will become enersized to operate the shear mechanism in the manner previously described. The shear magnet |88, in addition to operating the shearing instrumentalities, serves upon energization thereof to close a. pair 'of contacts 3HI.v The contacts 318 are electrically connected to the Error magnet 288. These latter contacts, however, are arreferring to Fig. 14, the contacts 366 asranged in series withA the pair of normally open f contacts 354 which are adapted to be closed-upon key 358. Since the conare arranged in series, enerto cause energization of the error magnet 298 shearing'instrumentalties will operate to shear the perforated portion of the tape from the unperforated portion thereof to produce a card or token, this token will not be ejected from the machine.

The stern of the error key 358 has rigidly attached thereto a. laterally projecting finger 380.

The stem of the shear key B has projecting therefrom a pin 384 which becomes engaged by the finger 380 upon depression of the error key 358. Thus, the key 356 may be depressed with no eiiectl upon the key 358, but the key 358, when depressed, will cause automatic depression of the key 358. r

Should it be desired to eject a token from the machine, the key 358 is depressed, thereby kclosing pairsof contacts 382 and 384 in the manner previously described. The ergization of the shear magnet |80 and subsequent closure of the contacts 318 associated therewith. However, since the contacts 364 are in this instance also closed, closure of-the contacts 310 will cause the error magnet 298 to become energized. This will cause ejection of the token undergoing processing in the manner previously described.

Upon depression of the space key 354, the pair of contacts 360 will become closed. These contacts are directly connected to the drive magnet |82 and thus each time the key 354 is depressed the tape will be advanced in the manner set forth previously.

In Fig. 10 a. plurality of cards or tokens of different size have been illustrated. It will be understood that, the specific length of the cards produced by the present machine is under the control of the operator of the machine. If desired, a suitable indicating mark, a scale or the like may be provided on the top wall i8 of the contacts 382 cause enltilting movement of said rocker members.

`vancing the tape over said table, a. perforating casing I0 to assist the operator in the production of cards which are uniform in size.

The invention is not to be limited tothe exact arrangement of parts shownin the accompanying drawings or described in this specification as various changes in the details of construction may be resorted to Without departing vfrom the spirit of the invention Only insofar -as the in- 'ention has been particularly pointed out in the accompanying claims is the same to be What is claimed is:

l. In an apparatus for applying codeperforations to a continuous strip of tape, a table over which the tape is adapted to be moved, means for advancing the tape over said table, a perforating Istation including a die block substantially flush with said table and over which the tape is adapted to pass, a nxed supporting shaft above the level of said table, a plurality of dongated rocker members pivoted to said shaft medially of their ends, said members including an outer enveloping arm and a plurality of inner arms nested within said outer arm, said arms overlying the die block at adjacent ends, a depending punch secured to each member adjacent said latter ends thereof and cooperating with the die block for tape perforating operations, a plurality of thrust rods projecting upwardly through said table and designed for elevating engagement with the other ends of said members, and means for selectively actuating said thrust rods to cause 2. In an apparatus for applying codeperforations to a continuous strip of tape to produce characters in a four-line code, a table over which the tape is adapted to be moved, means for advancing the tape over said table, a perforating station including a. die block substantially'flush with said table and over which the tape is adapted to pass, a fixed supporting shaft above the level of said table, a plurality of elongated rocker members pivoted to said shaft medially of their ends and overlying the die block at adjacent ends, said members including an' outer frame-f like member, a second framelike member closely nested within said outer member, a. third framelike member dlosely nested withinthe second member and a central elongated block-like member nested within the third member,.a depending punch secured to each member at adjacent ends thereof and arranged 1in alignment for cooperation with the die block for tape punching operations, a plurality of thrust rods projecting upwardly through said table in alignment and designed for elevating engagement with the other adjacent ends of said members, and means for selectively actuating said thrust rods to cause tilting movement of said rocker members.

3. In an apparatus for applying code perforations to'a continuous strip of tape to produce characters in a four-line code, a. table over which the tape is adapted to be moved, means for adstation including a die block substantially ush with said table and over which the tape is adapted to pass, a fixed supporting shaft above the level of said table, a. plurality of elongated rocker members pivoted to said shaft medially of their ends and overlying the die block at adjacent ends, said members including an outer framelike member, a second framelike member closely nested within said outer member, a third framelike member closely nested within the second member and a central elongated block-like member nested within the third member, a depending punch secured to each member at adjacent ends therev 4. In a tape perforating apparatus, a table over Y which the tape is adapted to be moved, a chuck for rotatably supporting a roll of the tape adjacent one end of the table, a tape retarding and straightening device comprising a pair of rollers rotatably mounted on said table in spaced relationship, an' arm pivoted to said table and having a free end adapted to rest upon said roll of tape'by gravity and to move downwardly as the size of said roll of tape diminishes, an additional roller carried by said arm adjacent its inner end and adapted to pass between said spaced rollers progressively as said arm moves downwardly, the tape issuing from said roll being adapted to pass over said spaced rollers and under said additional roller.

5. In a tape perforating apparatus, a table over l which the tape is adapted to be moved, a chuck for supporting a roll of the tape adjacent said table, a tape straightening and retarding device comprising a pair of spaced rollers positioned adjacent the table substantially at the level thereof, an arm pivoted to said table adjacent said rollers and having a free end adapted to rest upon said roll of tape and to move downwardly gradually as the diameter of said roll of tape decreases, anV extension on said arm projecting below the level of said table, a roller mounted on said extension adapted to bear downwardly against the tape passing oversaid table, an additional roller carried by said arm adjacent its point of pivotal connection to the table and positioned medially of said spaced rollers, said latter roller being adapted to move downwardly with the arm into the space existing between said spaced rollers for tape straightening purposes, the tape issuing from said roll thereof being adapted to pass over said spaced rollers and beneath said additional rollers cooperating therewith.

2,888,288 having a free end adapted to rest upon said roll of tape by gravity and to move downwardly as the size of said roll of tape diminishes, an additional tape exing member carried by said arm adjacent its inner end and adapted to pass between said spaced members progressively as said arm moves downwardly, the tape issuing from said roll being adapted to pass over said spaced members and under said additional member. Y

7. In an apparatus Yfor applying code perforations to a continuous strip of tape and including a table over which the tape is adapted to be moved, and a shearing station at which perforated portions of the tape are adapted to be severed from unperforated portions thereof, a guide extending along said table adjacent at least one longitudinal edge of the tape for maintaining the same in position on said table portion, an ejecting mechanism lor electing the severed portions of the tape comprising a horizontal rockshaft underlying said table and supported therebeneath for rocking movement, an arm `mounted for limited swinging movementabout a pivotal axis disposed above said rock-shaft, a tape engaging finger carried by the free end of said arm and projecting upwardly through said table and designed for engagement with the tape adjacent one edge thereof for elevating the latter from engagement with said guide, a cam secured to said rock-shaft and designed for lifting engagement with said arm, and means for causing rocking movement of said rock-shaft.

8. In an apparatus for Vapplying code perforations to a continuous strip of tape and including a table over which the tape is adapted to be moved, and a shearing station at which perioatfportions of the tape are adapted to be severed from unperforated portions thereof, a guide extending along said table adjacent at least one longitudinal edge of the tape for 'maintaining the same in position on said 'table'portion an ejecting mechanism for` ejecting the severed portions of the tape comprising a, rock-shaft dis- 6. In a tape perforating apparatus, a table over v which the tape is adapted to be moved, a chuck for rotatably supporting a roll of the tape adjacent one end of the table, a tape retarding and straightening device comprising a pair of tape ilexing members mounted on said table in spaced relationship, an arm pivoted to saidtable and posed beneath the level of said table and substantially parallel with the latter, said rock-shaft being mounted for rocking movement about its longitudinal axis, an arm mounted for limited y swinging movement about a pivotal axis and disposed above said rock-shaft, a finger carried by the free end of said arm and projecting upwardly through the table and designed for engagement with one edge of the tape, a cam-mounted on said rock-shaft and designed for lifting engagement with said arm, and means for actuating said rock-shaft.

WARD LEATHERS. 

